Disclaimer & Warnings:
I do not own the Turtles, as much as I would love to.
*This chapter contains allusions to turtlecest.*

Chapter Ten

Raph made a beeline for the garage, certain he'd find his brother there. He kicked the door open, storming inside, scanning every nook and shadow. He finally spied Mikey in the far corner, half-hidden behind a spare parts bin. He stomped up to him, half a dozen questions and insults on the tip of his tongue until Mikey turned to look up at him, his face soaked with tears.

Raphael stopped so quickly he nearly fell over, then rushed forward to grip Mikey's arms. Those weren't crocodile tears; they were real.

"Mike?" Raph said urgently. "Mike, what's wrong?"

Mikey shook his head, gulping air unsteadily.

Raph shook him slightly, his face contorted with fury. "Did Leo hurt you?" he hissed angrily.

"Wh- What?" Mikey glanced up at him, his wet eyes wide.

"I- I saw you two," Raph said quietly, his eyes narrowing. "Las' night. Did he- Did he do somethin' ya didn't want?"

"No, no," Mikey replied miserably, shaking his head again.

"Tell me the truth," Raph said, his voice strained. "If- If he forced you-,"

"No!" Mikey nearly shouted, shrinking from Raph's hold. "I- I started it." He glared at Raphael. "How could you think that?"

"I- I'm jus' worried," Raph said, now confused. "He's breathin' fire like he grew horns overnight and yer cryin' in a corner after ya two were- were doing stuff," Raph stuttered. "What else am I supposed t'think?"

Raphael slid to a sitting position beside Mikey as he began to haltingly explain, from the first 'experimental' kiss to how it had grown over the last week.

"And then- And then I asked him something this morning, and he freakin' wigged out on me!" Mikey finished, gesturing helplessly.

Raphael was silent for a moment, absorbing everything as he wrapped his arm around Mikey's shoulder. Mikey looked up at him, obviously waiting for Raphael to make sense of the situation. Raphael carefully considered his next words before replying.

"Wha' didja ask?" Raph asked hesitantly.

Mikey ducked his head, flushing. "I- I asked him if he… If he wanted more. Like, touching." He put a hand on Raphael's arm in explanation.

"An' he freaked out?"

"Yeah." Tears welled in Mikey's eyes again. "I said something wrong, didn't I?"

"No," Raph said, frowning. "Mike, do you- do you like Leo like that?"

"I don't know!" Mikey wailed. "That's why I wanted to- to do more, maybe then I would know. I just don't know. I've never felt anything like this."

Raph tilted his head. "Okay. Then kiss me."

"What? Eww!" Mikey shrunk from him again, then his eyes widened in recognition.

"Exactly," Raph said. "Not gross when it's Leo, though, righ'?"

"No," Mikey said quietly.

"Okay, look," Raph said, trying to sound reassuring, "It's- It's a lil' weird to me, I ain't gonna lie-,"

"You got sick, didn't you," Mikey whispered, pointing at him. "You got sick because of me."

"Y… Yes," Raph drawled. "But that was cause it hit me all at once. I- I didn't know how to handle it at first."

"I make you sick," Mikey said gloomily. "I'm a freak."

"No," Raph said patiently, "listen to me. It was just too much at once. I don't think yer a freak. Well, ya are, but yer just my Mike." He coaxed a smile out of Mikey, which made him feel more confident.

"I shouldn't've said that?" Mikey asked again, his eyes desperate.

"Well, ya know Leo," Raph said slowly. "He's allergic to showin' emotion. I'm surprised ya ever talked him into, uh, that in the first place."

Another small smile curled Mikey's lips. "You know how persuasive I can be."

"Yeah," Raph chuckled softly. "Okay. So, maybe this is a good thin'? Take a breather. Sort out what ya feel."

"Don't matter now," Mikey sighed. "He'll never talk about this again."

"Never say never," Raph said, squeezing him in a gentle hug. "I know! Let's get Don in on this."

"What? No!" Mikey gasped.

"Why not?"

"No, I'm- I'm embarrassed enough," Mikey said irritably.

"Mike, remember what I told ya when we had that big argument a few years back?"

Mikey scrunched his face. "I was a lying, cheating little shit-for-brains and-,"

"No, no," Raph said hastily, waving a hand. "After that. After we sorted it out."

Mikey shrugged, jostling them both. "Something about speaking from my heart was never wrong."

"Right. Mike, don't be ashamed of yer feelings; even if they confuse ya. There ain't no right or wrong, ya just feel."

"You understand that," Mikey said, frowning. "I- I dunno about Donnie."

"Trust me, Donnie will be a big help," Raph urged. "He's even smarter than he lets on."

Mikey looked up at him, his eyes searching his brother's. "Have- Have you ever thought about what- what Leo and I have been doing?"

"Yeah," Raph said, nodding. "Not with any of you, though."

"You've been getting cozy with Donnie," Mikey said, a hint of a smile returning to his face.

Raph shook his head, laughing. "Geez, Mike. Play matchmaker later. I wanna get you an' Leo sorted out."

"Good luck," Mikey said sullenly.

"Let's start with Don," Raph replied firmly. "Ya gotta admit, he knows how to handle Leo. That would be a big help already, righ'?"

"I… guess so." Mikey shrugged.

"Guys?"

Raph grinned as he heard Donnie's voice echo through the garage, dragging Mikey to his feet. "Perfect, c'mon let's go talk."

"But-," Mikey said, violently shaking his head.

"Talk about what?" Donnie said, coming up to them.

"Creepy hearing," Mikey muttered.

"Makes it easier to break open safes," Donnie said, giving him a teasing smile. "Need I ask, or will you explain?"

Mikey clung to Raph, turning his face against his brother's chest, and Raph sighed heavily.

"Let's sit," Raph suggested, motioning at a collection of stools nearby. They sat facing each other, Mikey still buried against Raph's plastron.

"Are ya seriously gonna make me explain?" Raph said crossly.

Mikey just nodded.

Raphael rolled his eyes, and Donnie gave him an understanding glance.

"It's- It's like this," Raph said, shifting uncomfortably under his brother's weight. "Mike an' Leo have, uh, been experimentin'."

Donnie's eyes flashed. "With what? I lock my lab every night-,"

"Not that, genius," Raph interrupted, unable to hide his grin. "Different kind. Physical kind."

Donnie's mouth formed an 'o', blinking rapidly at Mikey.

"I'm a freak," Mikey sniffed, his voice muffled.

"You…" Donnie tilted his head, rubbing his neck. "You've been experimenting sexually with Leonardo?"

"Just kisses!" Mikey snapped, turning to glare at him.

"Oh. Okay."

Raph watched with amusement as several thoughts and emotions crossed Donnie's face, wondering if he'd looked the same earlier. When he seemed to come to some sort of conclusion, Raphael continued.

"An' Leo apparently freaked out when Mikey suggested they do, uh, more," he said awkwardly.

"He would," Donnie frowned.

"I'm a freak, aren't I?" Mikey looked at him, hopeful and miserable all at once.

"No." His frown deepened. "It's, I believe, a natural progression. I've given it a small amount of thought, actually." Donnie leaned forward to pat Mikey on the shoulder reassuringly. "In fact, I've wondered before if your cries for attention had a hidden meaning."

"What?" Raph and Mikey chorused together.

Donatello shrugged. "You've always hung around me, Mikey. I was beginning to question your motives for visiting the lab so often even when you had no interest in my personal work."

Mikey's eyes darted between his brothers. "Sometimes it's hard to be around Leo. Does that make sense?"

"Totally," Raphael snorted, then yelped when Donnie kicked his foot.

"If you are attracted to him physically, then yes, that makes perfect sense," Donnie said calmly.

"I don't know," Mikey replied feebly. "I just don't know. And now he hates me."

"He doesn't hate you, he's just confused. Leo is very… traditional," Donnie said delicately. "This would be a shock for him. I suggest you give him time to come around to the idea."

"You think he would?" Mikey said hopefully.

"Possibly. Leo would, I think, be resistant to anything of this nature. Even if it wasn't you."

"See Mike?" Raph said, pointing at their brother. "Don can fix anythin'."

Donnie sighed in exasperation. "No I cannot. This is not my area of expertise, either."

"But I feel better," Mikey sniffled, wiping his wet face with his hands.

"That's good," Donnie said, relieved.

"So what did Leo want?" Raph said, his frown returning.

"I… I honestly don't know," Donnie scowled. "He was distracted, uneasy, and upset. His questions were pointless… Wait." He began to laugh, doubling over as he held his stomach. His brothers watched him breathlessly, waiting impatiently for him to explain.

"He- Get this, Raph- He thinks we're doing something," Donnie laughed. "He must think we're up to something behind his back."

"He does?" Raph said, eyes narrowed.

"Yeah!" Donnie clapped a hand over his mouth to quiet his chuckles. "And- oh dear." He sobered quickly, looking startled.

"What?" Raph snapped.

Donnie stood swiftly, shaking his head. "I need to talk to him again. You two spend the day together. I'll handle Leo."

"But-," Mikey started.

"What are you-," Raph growled.

Donnie cut them off with a sharp gesture. "Later. I must talk with him again. Get some breakfast, alright?" He turned without waiting for their answers and fairly flew from the garage in his haste.

"What was that about?" Raph grumped, shoving his brother off of him so he could stand.

"Beats me," Mikey said, his wide eyes incredulous.

"Oh well. Guess he'll enlighten us eventually. C'mon, I'm starvin'."

"I think I could eat." Mikey still held onto Raph's arm as they slowly made their way out of the garage. "Thanks for coming to find me, Raphie."

"Yer welcome. An' don't call me that."

"Donnie did last night," Mikey pouted.

"That was las' night." He scowled at Mikey, who giggled back.

[Author's Note]
Protective Raph and Donnie in one chapter. *fans self*